1776, according to press notes, "brings to life the creation and signing of the Declaration of Independence, as well as the remarkable personalities of the men and women who made it happen. John Adams (Holmes) is 'obnoxious and disliked' by the other delegates in the Continental Congress, but he dreams of American independence from British rule. With the help of the witty Benjamin Franklin (Goetz), the quiet but passionate Thomas Jefferson (Forbes) and the boastful Richard Henry Lee (White), Adams conspires to turn the Congress from its usual 'piddling' and 'twiddling' toward the approval of the courageous document that will define the American Revolution."

1776, based on the arguments and politics involved in the signing of the Declaration of Independence, opened on Broadway in March 1969, playing 1,217 performances before closing Feb. 13, 1972. With a score by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone, the original cast featured William Daniels, Howard Da Silva, Betty Buckley, David Ford, Ronald Holgate, Ken Howard and Virginia Vestoff. Peter H. Hunt directed the 1972 film, which featured many of the original Broadway cast members, including Daniels, Da Silva and Howard. Directed by Scott Ellis, a 1997 revival for the Roundabout Theatre Company starred Tom Aldredge, Michael Cumpsty, Dashiell Eaves, Gregg Edelman, Pat Hingle, Linda Emond, Merwin Foard, Brent Spiner, Paul Michael Valley and Lauren Ward. Tickets, priced $27-$57, are available by calling (612) 377-2224. For more information visit www.guthrietheater.org.